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Reason #3 why the Wizard likes Bovada:
Excellent Odds
In my opinion many online casinos are too stingy when setting the odds on their games. They think they will make more money that way but I believe they are misguided, because when players lose too quickly it’s not fun, and those players might not come back.
Bovada is one of the few casinos that understands this. They offer generous odds to let you play longer and get you a better chance of winning. Among their generous offerings are Full-Pay Jacks or Better returning 99.54%, six other video poker games paying over 99%, single-zero roulette, and my favorite, Pick ’em Poker, returning 99.95%!
Kudos to Bovada for not being afraid to give their players a good gamble.
Big Six
Last Update: April 17, 2012
Las Vegas Rules
Big Six, otherwise known as the "Wheel of Fortune", is played on a large vertical wheel. There are inlaid dollar bills of various denominations. The player bets on which denomination the indicator will stop on. The following table shows the betting options, payout odds, number on wheel, and the house edge.
| Big Six House Edge | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel |
Probability | House Edge |
| $1 | 1 | 24 | 44.44% | 11.11% |
| $2 | 2 | 15 | 27.78% | 16.67% |
| $5 | 5 | 7 | 12.96% | 22.22% |
| $10 | 10 | 4 | 7.41% | 18.52% |
| $20 | 20 | 2 | 3.70% | 22.22% |
| Logo #1 | 40 | 1 | 1.85% | 24.07% |
| Logo #2 | 40 | 1 | 1.85% | 24.07% |
As far as I know, every casino in the U.S. follows the Las Vegas rules, except in Atlantic City.
Atlantic City Rules
The Atlantic City rules are the same as the Las Vegas rules, except the joker and logo pay 45 to 1, instead of 40 to 1. This lowers the house edge on those two bets to 14.81%. Some other casino in the eastern U.S., outside Atlantic City, have been known to follow this rule.
Charles Town Rules
According to their web site, the Hollywood Casino
in Charles Town, West Virginia, changes one of the $1 slots to a $5. Otherwise, they follow the Las Vegas rules. That changes the odds as follows.
| Big Six — Charles Town WV Rules | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel |
Probability | House Edge |
| $1 | 1 | 23 | 42.59% | 14.81% |
| $2 | 2 | 15 | 27.78% | 16.67% |
| $5 | 5 | 8 | 14.81% | 11.11% |
| $10 | 10 | 4 | 7.41% | 18.52% |
| $20 | 20 | 2 | 3.70% | 22.22% |
| Logo #1 | 40 | 1 | 1.85% | 24.07% |
| Logo #2 | 40 | 1 | 1.85% | 24.07% |
Macau Rules
In Macau there is a similar game. One or two wheels each can be found in the larger casinos. It does not seem to be a popular game there. The game wheel is the same size, but instead of dollars, it has colors. The table below shows the number of stops on the wheel, probability, and return for each bet. The table shows the best bet is tied for orange, purple, and green, at 7.69% each.
| Big Six — Macau Rules | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel |
Probability | House Edge |
| Orange | 1 | 24 | 46.15% | 7.69% |
| Purple | 3 | 12 | 23.08% | 7.69% |
| Green | 5 | 8 | 15.38% | 7.69% |
| Blue | 10 | 4 | 7.69% | 15.38% |
| Yellow | 20 | 2 | 3.85% | 19.23% |
| Logo 1 | 45 | 1 | 1.92% | 11.54% |
| Logo 2 | 45 | 1 | 1.92% | 11.54% |
Australia Rules
The Star City casino in Sydney has a similar game, called the "Big Wheel." Instead of money, it uses native Australian animals. As the following table shows, the house edge is the same on all bets at 7.69%.
| Big Six — Australia Rules | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel |
Probability | House Edge |
| Koala | 1 | 24 | 46.15% | 7.69% |
| Kookaburra | 3 | 12 | 23.08% | 7.69% |
| Lizard | 5 | 8 | 15.38% | 7.69% |
| Echidna | 11 | 4 | 7.69% | 7.69% |
| Platypus | 23 | 2 | 3.85% | 7.69% |
| Emu | 47 | 1 | 1.92% | 7.69% |
| Kangaroo | 47 | 1 | 1.92% | 7.69% |
Lucky Big Wheel
Lucky Big Wheel is an electronic version of Big Six I noticed at the Venetian on April 17, 2012. It has a wheel that is even larger than the kind with a dealer, has more stops, and a lower house edge. The following table shows the bets available, the number of stops for each one, the probability of winning, and house edge.
| Lucky Big Wheel | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel |
Probability | House Edge |
| $1 | 1 | 26 | 48.15% | 3.70% |
| $3 | 3 | 13 | 24.07% | 3.70% |
| $6 | 6 | 7 | 12.96% | 9.26% |
| $12 | 12 | 4 | 7.41% | 3.70% |
| $25 | 25 | 2 | 3.70% | 3.70% |
| Logo 1 | 50 | 1 | 1.85% | 5.56% |
| Logo 2 | 50 | 1 | 1.85% | 5.56% |
| Total | 54 | 100.00% | ||
The house on this version of Big Six is significantly less than standard Big Six, with a live dealer. The lowest house edge is a tie between the $1, $3, $12, and $25 at 3.70%. The house edge is significantly highest on the $6, at 9.26%.
Money Wheel
Money Wheel is a similar game to Big Six, but involves multipliers and extra spins. I felt it was significantly different to make a separate page for it.
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